The 10 Best Cars for Canadian Winters

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The 10 Best Cars for Canadian Winters

Posted on January 26, 2023

You will all know as well as I that winter driving requires different skills than good weather driving. It also demands different qualities from our cars. While rear wheel drive offers a smooth, controllable ride, it doesn’t cope so well when the snow appears. While AWD helps immensely, it is certainly not a get out of jail free card.

 

So what are the top 10 cars able to cope with Canadian winters? Here is our top pick. We have selected vehicles that are comfortable and practical all year round but can rise to the occasion when the snow comes. Strap on a set of winter rubbers and away we go.

1.    Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee

 

 

With great ground clearance, AWD as an option, good visibility all round, the option for heated seats and mirrors and good engines that can pull all day long, the Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee is definitely one vehicle that can cope with the white stuff.

 

2.    Jeep Renegade Trailhawk

 

Another Jeep with high ground clearance and AWD as an option. Like the Cherokee, the Jeep Renegade is good to drive all year round but can really keep you out of trouble when the snow comes. Decent engines, nice cabins and a rugged design all help too. Add the Jeep’s Active Drive Low 4×4 system and the 2.4-litre engine and you have a vehicle that really can go anywhere.

 

3.    Subaru Forester

 

The Subaru Forester is a mix of crossover and wagon with good ground clearance, AWD as standard and a good pair of engine options. Both are easily capable of daily highway driving or coping with the rough stuff and come with either a manual transmission or CVT.

 

4.    Honda CR-V

 

 

The Honda CR-V is a surprise entrant into our top 10 cars for Canadian winters. It earns the spot with its AWD with Intelligent Control System that distributes power automatically between the rear wheels. Add a decent 2.4-litre engine that will run forever and great gas mileage and you have a practical car for any occasion.

 

5.    Ford Fusion

 

 

If you don’t want a crossover or SUV, the Ford Fusion with AWD could be what you need. Spec it with Ford’s AdvanceTrac electronic stability control system for maximum road holding and this car can go most places you need to go without any trouble.

 

6.    Lincoln MKS

 

 

The Lincoln MKS is well balanced, has a smooth V6 engine, comes as AWD and has lots of stability control options to keep you safe in the snow. It weighs a bit too which works in your favour while you have grip. If you want to travel in style regardless of weather, this is the car for you.

 

7.    Audi A4

 

 

Get an Audi A4 Quattro with its intelligent AWD system and you have another comfortable car that can go anywhere. Loaded with a series of great engines, smooth transmissions and the option for traction control and other safety tech, there is no wonder it sells so well.

 

8.    Land Rover Discovery

 

 

Few vehicles have the go anywhere capability of the Land Rover Discovery. Add comfort, a series of great engines with decent torque, intelligent stability control, AWD, low ratio transmissions, high ground clearance and other tricks and you really do have a go anywhere vehicle that will keep going all year round.

 

9.    Nissan Rogue

 

 

Get a Land Rover Discovery with AWD and you not only get a great car for all the family, it can handle itself well in any weather. With good ground clearance, stability control, CVT transmission, intelligent AWD system and a capable 2.5-litre engine, this car really can get you places.

 

10.    Kia Sorento

 

 

The Land Rover Discovery is an understated crossover with a very smooth engine, great transmission and AWD as an option. It is also comfortable, has great visibility, lots of safety tech and a huge range of upgrades. While not an obvious contender in a list of cars for Canadian winters, it can more than hold its own.

 

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